Lewis d



(No Model.)

L. D. CASTOR.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 459,219. Patented Sept. 8, 1891.

WITNESSES:

ATTONEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVIS D. CASTOR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO YVILLIAM H.IVESTON & CO., OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,219, datedSeptember 8, 1891.

Application filed May 20, 1891. Serial No. 398,398. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that L'LEWIS D. CAsTOR, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pen 11-sylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ElectricSwitches, which improvement is fully set forth in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of an electric switch formed of springs andterminal plates, with means for moving said springs into engagement withand disengagement from said plates with a snap or snapping action, thusindicating said engagement and disengagement, as will be hereinafterfully set forth.

Figure 1 represents a perspective View of an electric switch embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 represents a top or plan view of the interiorthereof. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section on line or at, Fig. 2,including a section of the covering'cap. Figs. and 5 represent faceviews of detached portions prior to being bent into shape. Fig. 6represents a side elevation of a detached portion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a base or bed on which ismounted a post B, to which is secured an arm or lever O.

D designates springs which are attached to the lever O and having theirouter ends E of segmental form and in contact with terminal plates F,the latter being supported on the base by the plates G, to which thecircuitwires H are secured. Connected with the ends of the lever areguides J, through which are freely passed the side portions of thesprings D, thus permitting movement of said portions in said guides.

K designates segmental pieces of insulating material, which are locatedon the base A, and to the ends of the same are connected the terminalplates F, said plates and pieces thus being continuous of each other.011 the inner fa ces of the pieces K are shoulders L, adjacent to whichis the end of one of the plates F, the other end of each of the platesbeing connected with the pieces in such manner as to leave shoulders Mbetween the plates and pieces. (See Fig. 2.)

In Fig. 4 I show a construction of the lever C and guides J in one pieceof material, said material being bent up along the lines N, forming theparts N and guides J. The guides J are also bent at or about a rightangle to the parts N along the line P. The ends of the springs D areriveted or otherwise secured to the parts N, and thus connected with thelever.

Q designates a cover of the switch, the same being connected with thebase A by means of an insulatingcollar R, the upper end whereof isflanged and overlapping the walls of the opening in the cover, throughwhich said collar is passed. The lower end of said collar rests on thepost B. A plug S is passed through the collar R and secured to the postL, by which provision the cover Q is held in place. The top of the plugS has insulating material thereon for evident purposes.

In the collar R is an opening or openings T to receive the bit portionof the key U, the handle whereof is formed or covered with insulatingmaterial.

The operation is as follows: The key is inserted in the collar R androtated, whereby motion is imparted to the lever G, and consequently tothe guides J, and motion may also be imparted to the springsD; but asthe endsE thereof may remain in frictional contact with the plates F andthe springs yield when the inner walls of the openings of the guides Jreach the sides of the springs said springs are carried around, and theyleave the terminal plates and drop upon the pieces K rapidly, after themanner of a snap, the circuit thus being broken. On further rotation ofthe lever the springs are caused to ride over theinnerface of thepieceK.\Vhen reaching the shoulder M thereof, they drop with a snap upon theplates F, whereby the circuit is completed or closed. The key may now beremoved, and it is evident that the switch is rendered inoperative, asaccess cannot be had to the interior of the device for movement of thelever without the employment of a proper key.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. Inan electric switch, an arm or lever having guides and springsconnected there with and passing through said guides, in combinationwith terminal plates and insulatingpieces continuous therewith, saidpieces being provided with shoulders whereby the springs are permittedto drop from said pieces upon said plates and from said plates upon saidpieces, thus closing and breaking the electric circuit, substantially asdescribed.

2. In an electric switch, an arm or lever having contact-springsattached thereto, and guides thereon projecting therefrom, said springsbeing passed through said guides, so as to be moved by the same fromcontact with terminal plates, substantially as described.

3. An electric switch having a rotatable arm or lever, guides carried bysaid lever having openings therein, springs on said lever passed throughsaid guides, and terminal plates adapted to be engaged by and disengagedfrom said springs, the supporting devices of said arm being adapted tobe engaged by a removable key, substantially as described.

4. An electric switch having a base and a cover therefor, a central poston the base, an insulated flanged collar connected to the cover, and aflanged plug connecting the collar to the post, as described.

5. An electric switch having a base and a cover therefor, a'cent-ralpost on the base with a rotating switch arm or lever therefor andco-operating contacts, an insulated flanged collar connected to thecover, and a flanged plug connecting the collar to the post, said collarbeing adapted to receive a removable key for engaging the end of theplug, substantially as described.

(3. In an electric switch, the lever C, attaching part N of said lever,and guides J, bent at an angle to said lever, all formed from one pieceof material, substantially as described.

LEWIS D. CASTOR.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. Jnnmnes.

